Mass. company's license scanner helps with traffic stops

The officer wouldn't have to walk back to his or her cruiser to get license info

GateHouse News Service

HANOVER, Mass. — A Hanover company has created a device that makes the often risky process of pulling over drivers a little safer for police officers. The Scan & See, a new handheld device developed by DataFetch, allows officers to scan a driver’s license at the driver’s window, speeding up the traffic stop.

The product took about nine months to develop – a process that included focus groups with police officers around the country and manufacturing by Micron Corp. of Norwood.

(Photo courtesy of Data Fetch)

A traditional police procedure for traffic stops is to enter license information into a computer on a police cruiser dashboard after collecting the data from the driver.

When an officer leaves the driver’s-side window to walk back to the cruiser, the officer is vulnerable to oncoming traffic, or the driver could have an opportunity to flee, Butler said.

“Police hate the ‘walk-back’ because it’s when they are most vulnerable,” Butler said.

The Scan & See can also be used by police officers investigating underage drinking at parties, and DataFetch has already had interest from bar owners, Butler said.